Oakland Schools Digital Learning
Newsletter - November 2022
In this issue you will find
- Veteran's Day Activities
- Thanksgiving Activities
- An interactive game to practice identifying the 50 US States
- A webpage with 35 interactive graphic organizers
- A math resource to help students deepen their understanding of ratios
- Information about the lessons found on "Reading Like a Historian"
- A free, online citation tool that doesn't have advertising
- An online Spirograph for Brain Breaks and perhaps some Geometry
- Directions for opening an Emoji keyboard on a Chromebook
- Information about becoming an Apple Learning Coach
- Information about a free, self-paced course to learn more about using Microsoft OneNote
- Origami tutorial videos
- An invitation from the Michigan Learning Channel to join MLC LABS
- A plethora of November resources from Discovery Streaming
- A 60 second video on pinning Chrome browser tabs
- A site for free, professional quality images and videos
- Registration information for the free, professional learning opportunity, "Game of Quotes"
- Information about nominating someone for a MACUL Award
Please reach out if you have questions about any of the information in this newsletter.
~Laura and Vinos
Veterans Day Activities
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 each year to honor American Veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve our country. Following are activities that can be used to help students in learning more about this day and the men and women who served.
Teach your students about gratitude and the importance of giving thanks by having them write a letter to the men and women who have served our country.
According to Operation Gratitude, letters are an extremely cherished item among veterans. Students can write a letter online and Operation Gratitude will print the message on a postcard and send it. In addition, teachers can sign up for a letter-writing toolkit with Operation Gratitude.
National Veterans Memorial Ceremony
The National Veterans Memorial Museum will offer a Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony can be viewed online on Friday, November 11. Distinguished veterans and guests will share messages of unity in support of our veteran community and ways to promote selfless service in our communities on Veterans Day and every day. The site includes a link to register your participation.
Archived Virtual Field Trip - Voices of the U.S - Why We Serve
Discovery Education is offering free access to a recording of "Voices of the U.S. - Why we Serve Virtual Field Trip" that can be viewed at any time. Through the viewing of this recording students will learn about the importance of service through a celebration of Veterans Day. Created in partnership with Discovery Inc., the Voices of the U.S. virtual experience also includes resources for educators to help engage students before, during and after viewing the recording of the field trip.
History.com shares Veterans Day by the Numbers, a short video that helps students learn some of the facts and figures behind the contributions made by America's armed forces.
Thanksgiving Activities
"What I am Thankful For" Turkey
Eric Curts created a Google Slides activity for students where they will use a template to build a turkey where each of the feathers will display things that the student is thankful for.
To get your own copy of the template to use with your students click the link below.
To review instructions for how your students will use the template visit Eric's blog post where you will find both video and text-based directions.
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Video Clips with Quiz Questions
Thankful "Email"
Resources for Elementary
US States
Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers
Resources for Secondary
Between 2 Numbers
Reading Like a Historian
The Reading Like a Historian curriculum is designed to engage students in historical inquiry. Each lesson revolves around a central historical question and features a set of primary documents designed for groups of students with a range of reading skills.
Students learn to investigate historical questions by employing reading strategies such as sourcing, contextualizing, corroborating, and close reading. Students will spend time evaluating the trustworthiness of multiple perspectives on historical issues and learn to make historical claims backed by documentary evidence.
Click here for a complete list of Reading Like a Historian lessons
Note: You will need to set up a free account to download the materials for the lessons.
Watch the ~2.5 minute video linked below to learn more about the program.
Digital Resources
Teaching Students to Cite Resources
The Oregon School Library Information System provides free, online citation tools. Because these tools are managed by a school library system there are no advertisements. Using these tools will help your students actually learn how to create citations and understand the process as they all require the user to input all of the information.
- MLA citation maker for students in grades 6-12.
- MLA citation maker, a slightly simpler version, for elementary students.
Brain Breaks
Inspirograph
Google Workspace
Type Emojis on a Chromebook
To open the Emoji keyboard on a Chromebook, your cursor needs to be in a text box. When you’re ready to add an emoji, right-click in the text box. This will bring up a pop-up menu. Select the “Emoji” option. A pop-up window will appear with emojis and a search box. The emoji categories are listed across the top. Simply search or browse for the emoji you want and select it. Emojis can be used in Docs, Slides, Classroom and more.
There is also a keyboard shortcut to open the emoji keyboard. If you prefer to use that, press the Search/Launcher key + Shift + Space at the same time.
Apple
Become an Apple Learning Coach!
Microsoft 365
OneNote Class Notebook: Free, Self-paced Course
- Create a OneNote Class Notebook and use the tools to create and distribute content to students
- Give feedback via OneNote with a range of approaches
- Identify lesson resources to create and store in Content Library
- Plan an activity using Collaboration Space
Makerspace
Origami
Michigan Learning Channel
What LABS Educators Do
- Use Michigan Learning Channel and PBS resources in your classroom.
- Take an active role in our online community (through our educator blog, our Facebook group, and our social media chats) to share your expertise with others around the state.
- Consider sharing the lessons that you create which leverage media to meet learning goals.
- Consider sharing media that your students create in response to PBS content or for other projects that you design
What LABS Educators Get
- A free welcome kit full of exclusive educational materials to get students analyzing and creating visual media.
- Ongoing communication about new content and resources from the Michigan Learning Channel and PBS.
- Media-focused opportunities for student voice and project-based learning in your classroom.
- Access to media producers and experts who can support student creators.
- Opportunities to collaborate on new content and teaching resources.
Discovery Streaming
Lots of Links for November!
Open this document from Discovery Streaming to access digital resources for many of November's special days including Election Day, World Kindness Day, and Thanksgiving. Continue scrolling through the document and you will find November Activity Calendars for grades K-5, recommended resources for all grade levels, and information about the virtual field trip, "Explore Life with Polar Bears," happening on November 9th at 12 PM.
Tech Tip
Pin Tabs in Chrome Browser Tab Bar
Free Stock Photos, images & Videos
Professional Learning Opportunities
Game of Quotes - EduProtocol to Engage Students in Reading
FREE, virtual session on Wednesday, December 1, 2022 from 4:30PM - 5:30PM
If you are looking for a fun way to get your students more deeply engaged in silent reading, then the "Game of Quotes" EduProtocol is for you. What happens in this protocol is that students have their usual silent reading time, but at the end of silent reading time they are given a prompt for round one. The students flip through the pages of their books looking for a good response to the prompt. They then share their responses and vote on a winner. Additional prompts are given and laughter and interest in books is generated. Note: Attendees at this session should have a book or magazine they are currently reading to use for game play.
Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning
Nominations are Open for March 2023 MACUL Awards
The Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) recently released the information and guidelines for the 2023 Award Nominations. They are seeking educators like you to nominate yourself or others for:
Innovative Teacher– (must be a certified PK-12 classroom teacher)
Innovative Leader – (must be a non-classroom educator, such as an ISD employee, technology or curriculum staff in a district, tech integration coaches, caregiver or student, etc.)
Innovative District – (must be a district within the realm of PK-12)
Innovative Technology Professional – (must be a non-classroom employee working in an educational setting, such as an ISD employee or technology staff)
All nominations are due by Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM EST.
Here is the official Nomination Form that must be completed. It would be awesome to have some of the wonderful educators that work in our county recognized with some of these awards. So many of you are so deserving.
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Team Information
Oakland Schools Digital Learning Consultants
Laura Cummings
Laura.Cummings@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2283
Vinos Kassab
Vinos.Kassab@oakland.k12.mi.us
248-209-2229
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